Safety landing for moving sidewalks



Dec- 2, V1958 A. D. slNDl-:N ET AL SAFETY LANDING FOR MOVING sIDEwALKs 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1957 INVENTORS.

v @if lm,

Dec. 2, 1958 A. D. slNDEN ET AL 2,852,599

SAFETY LANDING FOR MOVING sIDEwALKs Filed July lO, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS.

Dec. 2, 1958 A. D. slNDEN Erm. 2,862,599

SAFETY ummm@ FOR MOVING sInEwALxs vUnited States Patent O 2,862,599SAFETY LANDING Fon MOVING smEwALKs Alfred D. Sinden, Aurora, and Robert0. Schaeffer, Elgin,

Ill., assignors to Stephens-Adamson Mfg. Co., a corporation of IllinoisApplication July 10, 1957, Serial No. 670,948 13 Claims. `(c1.r1934-16)v Our invention relates to a safety landing for movingsidewalks, and more particularly, to a device for facilitating thetransfer of passengers between stationary passenger platforms and amoving sidewalk.

Patent No. 2,782,896, granted February 26, 1957, to Myron A. Kendall andAlfred D. Sinden, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference, illustrates a device of the vtype to whichour inventionre'- lates. In accordance with the teachings of said patent, a flexiblestrip of rubber or rubber-like material `closes the space betweenthemoving sidewalk and a platform in the area where transfer between thetwo is to be effected. The strip includes a relatively pointed sealingedge that projects over the transport surface of the moving sidewalk andextends across the width of said transfer area. Y

While the device of this patent has proved to be highly successful,problems that are associated onlywith passenger transportation havepresented the need for improvements. v

For instance, experience has shown that nicks, and eventually gouges,develop in the sealing edge of the strip over extended periods of use.It has been demonstrated that this wearing of the sealing edge resultsfrom contact with passengers heels as they alight from the movingsidewalk.

Furthermore, even though the device of said patent effectively preventsarticles, such as clothing, shoestrings, or the like, from being carriedthrough the gap between the strip and the transport surface of themoving sidewalk, it has been found psychologically desirable to arrangethe safety landing so that the sealing edgethereof will lift upwardlyautomatically in its entirety when articles or foreign matter enter thegap between the strip and the transport surface whereby removal of saidarticles v or foreign matter is more easily and quickly accomplished. y

A principal object of our invention is to provide a rockable safetylanding for moving sidewalks and the like that includes a rigid sealingedge which overlies a sealing surface that cooperates with the transportsurface of the moving sidewalk in preventing articles of clothing or thelike from being drawn under the land- Another object of the invention isto provide a rockable safety landing for moving sidewalks that shuts oifthe conveyor system when'foreign matter is drawn between the landing andthe transport surface of the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety landing formoving sidewalks andthe like that is adapted to meet all knowncontingencies that develop or may develop in the art of transportingpassengers.

Still a further object ofthe invention is to provide a novel hingedmounting for the safety landing which insures a smooth junction betweenthe tiltable or rockable structure and the adjacent stationary landingstructure. 1 Y

Mice

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a rockable safetylanding for moving sidewalks andthe like in which all moving partsinvolved are protected from dirt and moisture, and in which anyadjustments required to the several lparts of the deviceV arefacilitated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a safety landing formoving sidewalks and thelike that is composed of Vfew and simple parts,which is economical of manufacture, which is safe and convenientvin use,and which is readily adapted for use in connection with a wide varietyof conveyor installations., v

Other objects, uses, and advantages will `be obvious or become apparent4from a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating aninclined moving sidewalk or ramp arrangement to which the principles ofour invention have been applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtthrough the lower en d ofthe apparatus shown in Figure. l, taken longitudinally of the conveyorand illustrating the cooperation Yof our improved safety landing withthe transport surface of the conveyor of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectionalv view along line 3-3 of Figure 7; Y

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4--4 of Figure 7;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the fixed support member andassociated structures forming a part of 'our improved device, as viewedfrom the right hand side *of Figure 2; t

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the rocking member and associatedstructures forming a part ofV our improved device, as viewed from theright hand sideof Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a top view of thelprincipalelements of the device shown inFigure 2;

Figure 7a is an end elevational view of the member shown in Figure 5,taken from the right hand side thereof;

Figure 8 isa Figure 7;

' Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure8, as viewed from theright handside of Figurer 8; r, t 1

Figure l0 is a cross-sectional view alongline 10A- 10 of`Figure 7; l i.

Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional View through the upper end ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 1, taken longitudinally of the conveyor,illustrating the application of our improved safety landing to the upperend of the conveyor; and p i Figure l2is a diagrammatic Viewschematically illustrating an appropriate electrical circuit that may beemployed to operate the moving sidewalk described'herecross-sectionalvie'vv along lines-8.VV of General description Reference numeral 10 ofFigure l generally indicates a diagrammatically illustrated'movingsidewalk including an endless or continuous ribbon conveyorbelt 1 2presenting a relatively smoothtransport surface 18 and trained overpulleys 14 and 16 that, in the illustrated embodiment, are positioned atdifferent elevations. Preferably, mov'- ing sidewalk 10 is of thereversible type, that i s, the transport surface 18 thereof is movableeither upwardlyor downwardly. A specific drive arrangement is notshow'nas any conventional drive will serve the purpose, lthough Figure 12illustrates acircuit for controlling the motor therefor. Referencenumeral 20 generally Vindicates one form of our invention appliedbetween the lower pulley 16 and the lower stationary diagrarnmaticallylillustrated passenger platform 22, and reference numeral 24 generallyindicates a similar embodiment of our invention applied between theupper vfend of the conveyor and an upper stationary diagrammaticallyillustrated passenger platform 26. Y Conveyor belt Y12 maybe ofconventional type, and its supporting structure may be arranged in anyconventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the supportingstructure includes a slide plate 28 that supports the upper run of theconveyor 12 (seeFigure 2).

Referring to Figure 2, safety landing Vdevice 28 generally comprises arockable landing member 30 hinged to a stationary support member 32.Member 30 has fixed vto the top thereof a rigid plate 34 formed with arelatively pointed ysealing edge 36 `that projects over the transportsurface 18 of the conveyor. Preferably, plate 34 is positioned so thatsealing edge 36 is slightly below the adjacent portion of the top ortransport surface 18 of the conveyor that moves toward it on downhilloperation of the apparatus. .Associated with the plate 34 and underlyingsame .is a member l40 that is coextensive with the plate 34 and isformed from rubber or rubber-like material. Member 40 is provided with asealing surface 38; preferably, the material from which member 4t? isselected is such that the V.frictional characteristics of the surface 38will be substantially equal to or greater than the frictionalcharacteristics of the transport surface-18.

The plate 34 'is formed with a tread surface 42 Athat is separated Vfromsealing edge 36 by an upwardly curving 'surface 44 of special:significance and having frictional characteristics which aresubstantially less than the frictional characteristics of the transportsurface.

VThe members 30 and 32 are secured together by a hinge structuregenerally indicated at 50, and the rocking movement of the member 30with respect to the member 32 is .preferably limited by stop devices 52and 54, respectively '(see Figures 2 and 3'). Stop devices 52 .limitdownward rrocking movement of the member 30, and preferably the downwardlimit is such that initially sealing edge 36 touches surface 18 with nopressure and sealing surface 38 barely touches surface 18. The edge 36and surface 38 may wear away somewhat during extended operation of theapparatus, leaving a slight spacing between these elements and thetransport surface, but this has no material affect on the effectivenessof the invention, and in any event .the spacing may be adjusted, as willbe hereinafter made clear.

Stop device 54 limits upward rocking movement 'of the vmember 30, andpreferably adjustment is made so that the range of rocking movementbetweenupper and :lower positionsis `on the-order of 1A; of an inch.

v.Spring assemblies 56 (see Figure 4) are employed to bias the member 30into its said lower position. `A limit switch device 58 (see Figures 8and 9) secured to member 32 is actuated by linkage 60 (see Figures 8 and9) extending :between the limit switch and the member 30, when themember V30 is rocked toits upper limit of movement. In accordance withVour .invention,`limit switch 58 is incorporated in the operatingcircuit of the moving side- Walk drive (see Figure 12) in such a mannerthat it serves as an off-on 'switch for the conveyor; when the member 30is rocked upwardly to the upper limit of its movement, the conveyormovement stops.

In operation, assuming that the belt 12 is moving in the direction ofthe arrow in Figure 2, the normal operating position of the safetylanding is .that lillustrated in Figure 2. As a passengers shoe 70approaches the landing 20, the toe 72 Vthereof is lifted upwardly bysurface 44 which tilts heel 74 of the 'shoe upwardly 'and rearwardly.After the front part of the .shoe com'es in contact with tread surface42, the edge 76 of the heel remains tilted upwardly so that .it willmiss :the 'sealing edge 36 -of the safety landing. Surface 44 having arelatively 10W coefficient of friction will permit 'the shoe 70 to slideeasily onto surface `42 and over the member 30 onto the '2,862,599 Y' in f plate 81 covering member 32. The foregoing assumes, of course, thatthe passenger is permitting the conveyor to push him off onto thelanding without lifting his feet.

The surface 38 serves the function of preventing foreign matter orarticles such as clothing from being drawn between the member 30 and thesurface 18 of the conveyor. As the surface 38 has frictionalcharacteristics that are substantially -equal to or greater than thoseof the surface 18, articles such as clothing will not enter in .between`surface38 and surface 13 but will be retained outwardly thereof, sincethe surface 18 tends to slide by the articles more easily than thearticles will slide by surface 38.

If articles tend to enter the space under sealing edge 36, the member 30will rock upwardly against the action of the spring assemblies 5,6,whereupon limit switch 58 will shut off the conveyor until the articlescan be freed. The range of rocking-movement is limited to approximatelyVs of an inch to prevent the accidental insertion of fingers and thelike between ymem-ber -32 and the conveyor.

Figure 11 illustrates a similar embodiment of the inventionvthat isapplied to `the upper Vend of conveyor 10. Thesafetylanding 24 containsthe identical elements that safety landing 20 does, and when transportsurface 18 moves upwardly instead of downwardly, safety landing 24loperates vin the 'same manner as the safety landing 20.

Specific description Landing 20 generally comprises in the illustratedspecic embodiments a rigid plate to which is secured la supporting plate82, as by welding at 84. Member 40 is applied to bar 8 2 and then plate34 is placed on top, fplate 34 and member 40 being Vsecured in place byat Iheaded screws 86 cooperating with nuts 88 in the illustratedembodiment.

A plurality of lugs 90 (see Figures 6 and 10) are 'secured to the sideof plate 80 that faces member 32. Lugs 90 are formed lwith aligned holes92 that receive hinging rods 94, which are also received in spaced lugs96 fixed to the depending llange 98 of member 32 to form -hingingstructure 50. Lugs 96 are formed with elongated holes 92a. Rods 94 maybe provided with retaining cotter -pi-ns95 at either end thereof.

The members 30 and 32 at each end thereof carry structure forming a stopassembly 52 (see Figures 5 andv 6). spaced plates fixed to plate 80 (seeFigure 6) and "joined at their ends by a generally horizontal plate 102which is perforated as `at 164 to receive the shank 106 of a bolt 108that is screw threadedly mounted in a bracket .110 .fixed to ange 98 ofsupport 'member 32. A pair ofmovement .limiting -lock nuts 112 'arescrew threadedly received on the bolt 108 and limit upward movement ofthe plate 102 with respect to the bolt. This limits the downward'rocking movement of the member 30, and of course, the adjustmentdesired may be had by appropriately positioning nuts 112.

VThe stop assembly 5'4 (see Figure 3) comprises a bolt 129 lreceived inholes 122 and 1.24 formed in plate 80 and flange 98. The bolt 120carries lock nuts 126 that limit the movement of bolt 12) with respectto flange 98 and -thus the upward rocking movement of the vmember 30.Appropriate reinforcing and locating Aplates 97 and 99 may be secured toplate 80 and flange 98, respectively, if so desired. Adjustment may bemade by appropriately positioning nuts 126.

The .linkage y60 (see Figures 8 and 9) that actuates l-imit .switch 58comprises rigid lmembers 130 and 132 fixed to a lug f90, and to eachother, member 132 extending under support member 32 and being secured toa vertical plate 134 that is in turn secured to a horizon-tal plate 136.Plate 136 carries 'screw member 138 which lcoopera-tes with limit switch58 to operate same. Nuts 137 may be turned to adjust member 138 withEachr stop assembly 52 comprises a pair of aangaan respect to plate 136as desired. Limit switch 58 may be of any conventional type that Ywillperform the desired functions, and is preferably attached to member 32in any suitable manner as by being xed to plate 139 welded to ange 98.

The spring assemblies 56 (see Figure 4) each comprise a hooked bolt 140received in a hole 142 formed in ange 98 of member 32. Ay compressionspring 144 is received over the bolt 140- between washers 146 and 148,lock nuts 150 providing means for adjusting the compression provided byspring 144 (that is, the biasing.

action that tends to draw the bolt 140 to the right of Figure 4). Thehooked end 152 of the member 140 engages an appropriate bracket 154 thatis secured to plate 80 of member 30. Nuts 150 of devices 56 are adjustedto provide a sufficient biasing action on member 30 such that thesealing edge 36 and the sealing surface 38 will remain in theaforementioned lower positions under normal operating conditions.

Member 32 in the form illustrated is an angle bar and has Xed thereto ateach end thereof a plate 160, plates 160 being secured to appropriatesupporting structures at the end of conveyor 10. v received over member32 and held in position by appropriate at headed screws 170. The plate81 preferably makes a smooth juncture at point 172 with the conventionalpassenger landing or platform structure 174.

In the illustrated embodiment, an appropriate structuralarrangementgenerally indicated at 176 is provided to hold plate 81 in line withplatform 174.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 11 is generallythe same as that already described, similar reference numeralsindicating similar parts in this iigure. The elements not specificallyillustrated are arranged in a manner similar to that described above. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the only real difference is that thetread surface 42 is level with the surface of plate 81. It will be notedthat sealing edge 36 of device 24 is positioned below the adjacentportion of 'surface 18 that moves toward it on uphill operation of theapparatus. When the transport surface 18 moves uphill instead ofdownhill, device 24 performs the same functions as they device 30 doeson downhill movement.

The diagrammatic circuit illustrated inFigure l2 includes three phasemotor 180 connected through switches U1-U3 and D1-D3 to an appropriatesource of three phase power. Leads 182 and 184 connect switches 58 inthe operating circuit as well as primary switch 186, up and downmovement controlling push button switches 188 and 190, the coils ofrelays Dand U, and switches D4, D5, U4 and U5. Switches D4 and U5 arenormally closed, and in the illustrated circuit relay D actuatesswitches D1-D5 while relay U actuates switches U1-U5.

When uphill operation is desired, after switch 186 is closed, switch 188is closed whereby the coil of relay U is energized to actuate the relay,which functions to close switches U1, U2, U3 and U4, andopen switch U5.Assuming that the upper landing limit switch 58 Vis normally closed, andthat motor 189 operates through appropriate drive transmitting means tomove transport, surface 18 upwardly, the motor 180 will drive thetransport surface 18 uphill until either switch 186 or switch S8 of theupper landing is opened, whereupon operation of the apparatus willcease; relay U being vde-energized functions in a conventional manner toclose switch U5 and open switchcsUl, U2, U3 and U4. When once stopped,uphill operation is recommenced by again closing the contacts of switch188 (after the switch 58 of the upper landing is again closed).

When downhill operation is desired, after switch 186 is closed, switch190 is closed whereby the coil of relay D is energized to actuate therelay which functions to close switches D1, D2, Daand D5 and open switchD4. Assuming that the lower landing limit switch 58 is normally closed,theoperation of vmotor 180 is reversed to drive Cover plate 81 is thetransport surface 18 downhill ,until either switch 186 or switch 58 ofthe lower landing 'is' opened, whereupon operation of the apparatus willcease; relay Dpbeing deenergized functions in a conventional manner toclose switch D4 and open switches D1, D2, D3 and D5. When once stopped,downhill operation is recommenced by again closing the contacts ofswitch (after the switch 58 of the lower landing is closed).

The circuit of Figure l2 is provided for completeness of disclosureonly, and it is to be understood that switches 58 may beincorporated inany .appropriatecircuit that will provide the desired results.

Advantages of invention Our improvement provides a number of importantadvantages. For instance, the sealing edge 36 being formed from a rigidmaterial, it effectively resists damage to it from the shoes ofpassengers, etc. It also protects the rubber like member 40 that isdisposed underneath vtread surface 42. Tread surface 42, together withthe smooth convex surface 44, insures that the edge 76 of a persons heelwill not catch on the sealing edge 36 of the safety landing. The sealingedge 36 being positioned closely adjacent toy and below the'adjacentportionof transport surfacey 18 that moves toward it, the introductionof foreign matter between the edge 36 and the conveyor is inhibited, asthe tendency is for it to ride over the tread plate.

If it should happen that articles should fail to ride over the plate 34,and tend to wedge between edge 36 and the conveyor, the sealingsurface'38 effectively prevents them from being drawn below the member40 by the movement of the transport surface. The landing being tiltable,any article vor matter that might accidentally start to fol-V low thebelt under the edge 36 may be easily and quickly pulled out. For perfectsafety, on upward rocking movement of the safety landing, a limit switch58 is actuated to shut off the conveyor system whereby it is insuredthat a person whosel clothing may be caught isfreed within seconds afterbeing caught.'

By limiting the upward rocking movement of the member 32 to.approximately 1A; of an inch, it will be impossible for one toinadvertently insertA his fingers or the toe of his shoe in between themember 30 and the conveyor.

The stop assemblies 52 limiting downward rocking moveand the sealingsurface 38 will be positioned adjacent to or just in contact with thetransport surface 18 without at any time applying pressure against it.

The hinged connection in the embodiment of the invention illustratedinsures a smooth junction between the rockable landing member 30 and thecover plate 81,v as will be observed from Figures 2 and 1l. Thisprevents the accumulation of dirt at this point, and eliminates anystructures which might form obstacles to passenger movement.

The various components of the illustrated embodiments are arranged toprovide ready access to all components that require adjustment. Thus, bymerely removing cover plate 81, adjustments for upward and downwardrocking movement, spring tension, and limit switch operating movementmay be made. Moreover, replacement of the parts subject to the greatestwear, namely, the plate 34 and member 40, is easy because of their readyaccessibility.

Another important feature of the invention is that all moving parts ofthe safety landing are protected and enclosed from dirt and moisture. l

Member 40 may be formed fromA rubber or a' rubber like material andypreferably has aV durometer hardness of about 60. Plate 34 is preferablyformed from a metal of an appropriate type, such as stainless steel oraluminum. The other structural components illustrated may be formed fromany suitable materials. v

Though our invention is .illustrated as applied toan 7 inclined moving'sidewalk-or ramp, it should be apparent that it is equally applicableto level -or horizontal moving sidewalks.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate our invention and the manner in which it may beperformed, and the invention is not to be limited thereto except in sofar as the appended claims are so limited since those skilled in the artwho have our disclosure before them will be able to make modificationsand variations therein without departing lfrom the scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. In a conveyo-r system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface moving in a forward direction, andVa stationary passenger platform at the forward end of the transportsurface, the improvement wherein a rockable landing member is interposedbetween said platform and said transport surface in the area wheretransfer Abetween the transport surface and the platform is to beeected, said landing member having a relatively pointed sealing edgeprojecting in a rearward direction over the transport surface in closeproximity thereto, and being mounted for pivotal movement about-asubstantially horizontal axis that is located forwardly of said pointededge, stop means limiting the upward and downward rocking motion of saidpointed edge, and means yieldably biasing said sealing edge toward saidtransport surface.

2. In a conveyor system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface moving in a forward direction, and astationary passenger platform at the forward end of the transportsurface, the improvement wherein a rockable landing member is interposedbetween said Vplatform and said transport surface in the area where thetransfer between the transport surface and the platform is to beeffected, said landing member extending across substantially the entirewidth of said transfer area and having a relatively pointed sealing edgeprojecting in a rearward direction over the transport surface in closeproximity thereto, and an upper tread surface that is separated fromsaid sealing edge by a convex surface, said convex surface havingfrictional characteristics that are less than those of said transportsurface, said landing member being mounted for pivotal movement about asubstantially horizontal axis that is located forwardlyvof said sealingedge, stop means lmiting the upward and downward rocking motion of saidpointed edge, and resilient means biasing said sealing edge toward saidtransport surface.

3. In a conveyor system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface moving in a forward direction, and astationary passenger platform at the forward end of the transportsurface, the improvement wherein a rockable landing member is interposedbetween said platform and said transport surface in the area wherein thetransfer between theV transport surface and the platform is to beeffected, said landing member extending across substantially the entirewidth of said transfer area and having a relatively pointed sealing edgeprojecting in a rearward direction over the transport .surface and inclose proximity thereto, and an upper substantially smooth treadsurface, said landing member 'comprising .an upper relatively hardmember forming said sealing edge and said upper tread surface, and alower resilient member in substantial wiping engagement with saidtransport 'surface across substantially the entire width of saidtransfer area, said resilient member having frictional characteristicsthat are substantially equal to or greater than those of the transportsurface, said landing member being mounted for pivotal movement about a'substantially horizontal axis that is located forwardly of said sealingedge, stop `means limiting the upward and downward rocking motio-n ofsaid sealing edge, and means yieldably biasing said sealing edge towardsaid transport surface.`

4. The improvement set forth in claim 3 wherein said ystop means limitsthe range of rocking motion of said sealing edge above said transportsurface to that on the order of 1/8 of an inch.

5. The improvement set forth in claim'3 wherein said stop means isemployed to stop motion of the conveyor belt 'when said sealing edgerocks away from the transport surface against the action of saidyieldable means.

6. The improvement set forth in claim 3 wherein said stop means limitsthe downward rocking motion of said sealing edge with respect to thetransport surface at the position wherein said sealing edge and saidresilient member are positioned closely adjacent said transport surface.

7. In .a conveyor system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface moving in a forward direction, and astationary passenger platform at the forward end of the transportsurface, the improvement wherein a rockable landing member is interposedbetween said platform and said transport surface in the area wherein thetransfer between the transport surface and the platform is to beeffected, said landing member extending across .substantially the entirewidth of said transfer area and comprising a rigid plate having arelatively pointed sealing edge projecting in a rearward direction overthe transport surface and in close proximity thereto, .and an upperrelatively smooth tread surface that is positioned forwardly of saidsealing edge, said landing member further comprising a lower memberhaving a sealing surface that is positioned forwardly of said sealingedge and has frictional characteristics that are substantially equal toor greater than the frictional characteristics of said transportsurface, said landing member being mounted for pivotal movement about asubstantially horizontal axis that is located forwardly of said sealingsurface, stop means limiting the upward rocking motion of said sealingedge to the range of movement on the order .o-f 1A; of an inch, stopmeans limiting downward rocking motion of said sealing edge with respectto the transport surface at the position wherein said sealing edge andsaid sealing surface are positioned closely adjacent said transportsurface, and means yieldably biasing said sealing edege toward sai-dtransport surface.

8. ln a conveyor system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface moving in a forward direction, and astationary passenger platform at the forward end o-f the transportsurface, the improvement wherein a safety landing device is interposedbetween said platform and said transport surface in the area where thetransfer between the transport surface and the platform is to beeffected, said device comprising a support member extending transverselyof said transport surface and positioned in the gap between saidtransport surface and said platform, a landing member hinged to saidsupport member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis that islocated below the upper portion -of said support member and in saidarea, said landing member comprising a rigid member extendingtransversely of said transport surface, a rigid plate secured to the topof said member and having a relatively pointed sealing edge projectingin a rearward direction over the transport surface and in closeproximity thereto and an upper relatively smooth tread surface that ispositioned forwardly of said sealing edge, said landing member furthercomprising a lower member secured to said upper member and having asealing surface that is positioned forwardly of said sealing edge andhas frictional characteristics that are substantially equal to orgreater than the frictional characteristics of said transport surfaceadjustable stop means coacting between said support member and saidrigid member limiting the upward rocking motion of said sealing edge tothe range of movement on the order of /a of an inch, further adjustablestop means coacting between said support member and said rigid memberlimiting the downward rocking motion of said sealing edge with respectto the transport surface at the position wherebelt, linkage meansextending between said landing member and said limit switch means andshutitng o said switch means when said sealing edge rocks away from thetransport surface, the adjustments of the respective stop means, andsaid limit switch means, being disposed between said support member andthe platform, and recovable cover plate means secured over the spacebetween said rigid plate and the platform.

9. A safety landing for the forward end of moving sidewalks and the likecomprising a rigid upper plate positioned at least partially over theforward end of the moving sidewalk and having a relatively pointed rigidsealing edge that extends across substantially the entire width of theforward end of the moving sidewalk, and a lower member secured belowsaid plate and formed with a sealing surface that has frictionalcharacteristics that are substantially equal to or greater than thefrictional characteristics of the moving sidewalk and is positionedclosely adjacent the forward end of the moving sidewalk forwardly ofsaid sealing edge, said sealing edge of said plate extending rearwardlyof said sealing surface of said lower member.

10. In a conveyor system including a conveyor belt presenting arelatively smooth transport surface, and means for reversing themovement of the belt whereby the transport surface may move in either aforward or rearward direction, and forward and rearward stationarypassenger platforms positioned at the forward and rearward ends of thetransport surface, the improvement wherein a rockable landing member isinterposed between the respective platforms and said transport surfacein the area where transfer between the transport surface and therespective platforms is to be effected, each of said landing memberscomprising an upper rigid plate having a pointed sealing edge thatextends over the transport surface, and an upper tread surface, ea-chlanding member further comprising a lower member having a scalingsurface that is positioned adjacent to but extends short of therespective sealing edges of said plates, said sealing surfaces havingfrictional characteristics that are substantially equal to or greaterthan the frictional characteristics of said transport surface, stopmeans limiting the upward rocking motion of the respective sealing edgesto the range of movement on the order of 1/s of an inch, stop meanslimiting downward rocking motions of the respective sealing edges withrespect to the transport surface at the position wherein the respectivesealing edges and sealing surfaces are disposed closely adjacent saidtransport surface, and resilient means biasing the respective sealingedges and sealing surfaces toward said transport surface.

11. The improvement set forth in claim 10 wherein said platforms are atdifferent elevations, and wherein the transport surface inclines betweensaid platforms.

l2. In a conveyor system including an endless conveyor presenting atransport surface moving in a forward direction, and a stationarypassenger platform at the forward end of the transport surface, theimprovement wherein a rockable landing member is interposed between saidplatform and said transport surface in the area where transfer betweenthe transport surface and the platform is to be effected, said landingmember comprising a rigid platelike structure that extends acrosssubstantially the entire width of the transfer area and closes the gapbetween the platform and the transport surface, said rigid structurehaving at its rearward side a relatively pointed sealing edge thatprojects in a rearward direction over the transport surface in closeproximity thereto, and being formed with an upper tread surface that isseparated from said edge by an upwardly curving convex surface thatdenes a lift structure for tilting a passengers shoe when the toethereof engages and rides over said convex surface, whereby the heel ofthe shoe is tilted upwardly and away from engagement with said sealingedge, said landing member being mounted for pivotal movement about asubstantially horizontal axis that extends transversely of the conveyorand is located forwardly of said sealing edge, stop means limiting theupward and downward rocking motion of said pointed edge, and resilientmeans biasing said sealing edge toward said transport surface.

13. The improvement set forth in claim 12 including limit switch meanspositioned adjacent said member, said limit switch means controlling themovement of said conveyor, said member being operatively connected tosaid switch means to shut off the conveyor when said sealing edge rocksaway from the transport surface.

Dodge Dec. 12, 1899 Reno Oct. 6, 1914

